A Dundalk High School gym teacher is all but cleared of charges he stole cash and jewelry from students? lockers while they were in class.
Several students pointed to Louis Clark, of Matzon Road, as the culprit last year in the case of their missing cash. Prosecutors essentially shelved the case and are declining for now to pursue charges that Clark, 26, lifted $20 or more at a time from the students? lockers.
“I like Mr. Clark. I?m always going to like Mr. Clark,” said Calvin McDaniels, 18, who had $40 taken last year when he was a student at Dundalk.
Clark was taken into custody March 9 and charged with the theft of a total of $505, court records show. “It was difficult, but his friends and his family ? they knew differently,” said Louis Clark Sr., himself a Baltimore County school teacher of 36 years. Clark said his son is on paid leave from school and working at a mail warehouse until he hears what will become of his teaching job.
A new gym teacher has been hired at Dundalk High, Principal Margaret Johnson said.
“There were many thefts before he was ever at the school and there were apparently thefts occurring after he left the school,” said defense attorney Thomas Morrow. Clark was labeled a suspect amid “rumor and innuendo,” he said.
About a half-dozen boys reported stolen items, including a $150 ring laced on a necklace, a Maryland ID card and a credit card, in addition to the cash, according to charging documents.
Kevin Ostrowski told police he once tried to get to the locker room during class to get headphones and heard keys jingling inside before Clark walked out. Ostrowski had mixed emotions about the teacher being charged with plucking $40 from his locker, his mother said. “They?re supposed to be a role model, not rip you off,” Donna Ostrowski said.
There?s been no finding either way as to Clark?s guilt, and the case can be reopened.
